Legacy of Orïsha, #2
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
CHAPTER NINETY: ZÉLIE
Overview
Zélie frees imprisoned maji in the palace cellars, then corners Inan, who dismisses his guards, surrenders, and reveals vital secrets to safeguard Orïsha. As Zélie begins to kill him, Roën arrives with a warning and a mask. A white gas cloud engulfs them, abruptly halting the execution and shifting the battle’s course.
Summary
Zélie and Iyika fighters race through the palace cellars, locating a packed cell where Mári, Bimpe, and hundreds of maji are chained. Zélie orders a rapid rescue; Kâmarū disintegrates chains while Imani and Khani pull prisoners free. After embracing Mári and Bimpe, Zélie spots Inan fleeing deeper into the tunnels and breaks off to pursue him.
Inan dismisses his guards and surrenders, fulfilling the vow in his letters not to fight. He calmly shares critical state secrets—where to find the royal treasuries, how to redistribute wealth, and the locations of majacite stockpiles hidden in fortresses—insisting Orïsha’s only chance is under Zélie’s leadership after the night’s bloodshed.
Conflicted yet resolute, Zélie places her hand over Inan’s heart and begins to Reap his lifeforce. Memories of their violent clashes and intimate moments surge through her as he apologizes. Zélie whispers goodbye and tightens her grip, prepared to finish him.
Before she can complete the Reaping, Roën barrels down the steps, hurling a mask toward Zélie as a moving white cloud engulfs him. The gas sweeps over Zélie as well, cutting off the execution and plunging the confrontation into sudden, choking uncertainty.
Who Appears
- ZélieLeads the prison rescue, confronts Inan, begins Reaping his lifeforce before a white gas interrupts.
- InanDismisses guards, surrenders, divulges treasuries and majacite secrets, accepts death at Zélie’s hand.
- RoënArrives with a mask to warn Zélie; is engulfed by a moving white cloud.
- MáriYoung Reaper found imprisoned; freed by Zélie and embraced amid the chaos.
- BimpeImprisoned maji freed alongside Mári during the cellar rescue.
- KâmarūUses magic to disintegrate chains, speeding the mass prison break.
- ImaniHelps pull freed maji from their bindings during the rescue.
- KhaniAssists Imani in extracting prisoners once the chains are broken.